The methods used to implement changes such as the use of telehealth are a crucial factor for its success.

In 2011 around 50,000 VHA patients received telehealth services and this number looks set to rise, making this the largest implementation of telehealth worldwide.  These telehealth services are for designated individuals and populations across the USA.  Initially this programme’s focus was on the active management of chronic conditions and post traumatic stress disorder, however following this success it is moving into other areas such as obesity management.

Currently in the UK there are more than 15 million people who suffer from conditions that cannot be cured, but can be managed through medication.  As part of the Life Sciences program, 3 million people will be given access to telehealth technology in their homes.  The recently published Department of Health’s Whole System Demonstrator (WSD) Programme headline findings document shows how these patients can benefit from telecare.  It has been acknowledged that with many telehealth pilot projects currently running within the NHS, the overall approach is somewhat disjointed. 

There are a number of similarities between the VHA and NHS and it is with these similarities in mind where it is felt that the NHS could learn from the VHA’s telehealth experiences.  The table below, showing the potential scale and cost saving within key disease groups across the NHS, has been taken from the full report – Telehealth – What can the NHS learn from experience at the US Veterans Health Administration?  There is a lot of very useful and interesting information in this report – definitely worth a read!